Muslim-Christian Dialogue

H. M. Baagil, M.D.WAMY Studies on Islam

ContentsDialogue

The First Contact between a Christian and a MuslimThe Holy BibleThe Doctrine of the TrinityThe Doctrine of the Divinity of Jesus ChristThe Doctrine of the Divine Son ship of Jesus ChristWas Jesus Crucified?The Doctrine of Atonement and Original Sin

Muhammad in the BibleBoth Ishmael and Isaac Were BlessedCriterion of the Prophet by JeremiahUntil Shiloh ComeBaca Is MeccaThe House of My GloryChariot of Asses and Chariot of CamelsThe Prophet Like unto MosesMy Servant, Messenger, and ElectKing David Called Him "My Lord"Art Thou That Prophet?Baptizing with the Holy Ghost and with FireThe Least in the Kingdom of HeavenBlessed Are the PeacemakersComforterRevelation to Prophet Muhammad

References

Acknowledgment

I am an American raised from childhood in the Christian belief. Until I began my soul'squest for God, I had taken many matters of importance for granted.

After discussions, reading, and rereading the manuscript of the present Muslim-ChristianDialogue, I have gone over the quotations from the King James Version of the Holy Bibleand the Holy Qur'an.

I finally announce my shahadah (testimony) publicly in English, then in Arabic: I bearwitness that there is no deity except Allah, Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is Hisservant and messenger (a shhadu an la illaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharikah lahu waashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasulahu).

Through this very basic and simple testimony, I believe many people will submit to Allahin spirit and truth.

I hope that this short and easy-to-read booklet will be read worldwide and will attract manywho are searching for a true belief where their minds may find rest and satisfaction.

Roy Earl Johnson

Note from the Author

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

This booklet has been written as the result of dialogues that I had with members of theChristian clergy and laity. The discussions were polite, pleasant, friendly, and constructivewithout the slightest intention of hurting the religious feeling of any Christian. It isprovocative and a challenge to Christianity. It is indispensable for those looking for thetruth and those studying Comparative religion.

C: ChristianM or m: Muslim(pbuh): peace be upon him(pbut): peace be upon them

(The latter two phrases are said by all pious Muslims after mentioning the name of aprophet. They will be assumed throughout this booklet).

H. M. Baagil, M. D.January 1 984

Introduction

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

I am grateful to Allah for the opportunity to read the manuscript of Muslim-ChristianDialogue and for being asked to write an introduction to this remarkably eye-openingbooklet. Anyone interested in comparative religion will find in this booklet many surprisesthat challenge what many once believed to be absolute truths.

This work by Dr. Hasan M. Baagil reflects his meticulous and painstaking effort to presenthis findings clearly, concisely, and thoroughly. As a result of his study of Christianity andthe Bible over a four-year period, Dr. Baagil, a dedicated Muslim, learned that Christiansdiffer in their basic beliefs (i.e., the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, etc.), that Churchdoctrine contradicts the Bible numerous times, and that the Bible even contradicts itself!His conversations with Christian clergy and laity during this period of study have providedthe impetus for the Muslim-Christian Dialogue.

The reader will be surprised to learn that, in the Bible, Jesus (pbuh) never claimed to beGod; that he did not die on the cross; that the miracles performed by him were alsoperformed by many other prophets and even by disbelievers; and that Jesus himselfprophesied the advent of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon both of them. All of thisplus much more is detailed from clear and concise passages of the Bible. The question thatobviously must be raised after witnessing such clear contradictions is: Is the Bible God'sWord? The effort here by Dr. Baagil is not intended to deride Christian people, andcertainly not to mock Jesus and his teachings, as Allah forbids such activities. The intent isonly to point out that false charges, misrepresentations, and outright lies against Allah andHis prophets are in themselves both deriding and mocking in nature.

Muslim-Christian Dialogue also makes clear the Islamic view and shows how the Qur'an,revealed to the Prophet Muhammad some six hundred years after Jesus, peace be uponboth of them, corrects the errors that crept (knowingly or unknowingly) into the messagethat Jesus brought. This booklet should prove to be a very valuable asset to Muslims andChristians, particularly given the interest in dialogues between the two faiths. God willing,it will be an effective tool for Muslims in our efforts to invite Christians to Islam.Conversely Christians should become more aware of what in fact the Bible says and whatJesus (pbuh) actually taught as a result of studying this booklet. Indeed, as a Muslim thehope is that non-Muslims will accept the truth and bear witness to the oneness of Allah andthat Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

May Allah reward Dr. Baagil for his efforts to dispel darkness. May Allah's peace be uponus all.

Muhammad A. Nubee

The First Contact between a Christian and a Muslim

C. Why have there been in the last decade many discussions held between Christians andMuslims about their beliefs?

M. I think because we both have several things in common. We believe in the One CreatorWho sent many Prophets and in Jesus as the Messiah as well as the Word of God who wasdenied by the Jews.

Our Holy Qur'an mentions in Surah 3:45:

[Remember] when the angels said: 'O Mary! Verily Allah gives you the glad tidingsof a Word from Him, his name will be Messiah Jesus, the son of Mary, held inhonor in this world and in the hereafter, and of those who are near to Allah....'

Dialogues have been held everywhere in Europe, Canada, the United States, and Australia.Even the Vatican has participated: discussions were held between Vatican theologians andEgyptian Muslim scholars in Rome in 1970 and in Cairo in 1974 and 1978. Another seriesof discussions between Vatican theologians and Saudi Arabian Muslim scholars was heldin Rome in 1974. Muslims have also been invited by many churches to present Islam.

C. If Christianity is nearly two thousand years old and Islam more than fourteen hundredyears old, why were these discussions not held centuries ago?

M. For the last three to four centuries, many Asian and African countries that had beenruled by Muslims were colonized by Britain France, Holland, Belgium, Spain, andPortugal. Many Christian missionary and religious colonists tried to convert as manyMuslims as they could by whatever means they had: giving medical treatment clothes,food, and jobs to the poor. However, only a few converted. A small part of the elite wasconverted to Christianity because of its belief that Christianity brought civilization andprogress. They adopted this mistaken idea because they believed that western-styleprogress was attained after the separation of church and state in Europe.

After the Second World War, many Muslims from Asian and African countries emigratedto the West as workers and professionals. This brought them into much closer contact withChristians. Also, students were active in introducing Islam.

C. Do you see other reasons why many dialogues are held nowadays even by theirrespective missions?

M. I think the gap between both is becoming smaller as each is more tolerant, althoughboth are still competing for converts. I still remember my Christian teacher, who used tosay: "Muhammad the imposter, the dreamer, the epileptic." You now find fewer writersdepicting Islam in such a manner.

We Muslims feel closer to the Christians than to the Jews and disbelievers, as the Qur'anprophesied in Surah 5:82: You will find the most vehement of mankind in hostility to thosewho believe (to be) the Jews and the idolaters. And you will find the nearest of them inaffection to those who believe (to be) those who say: 'Lo! We are Christians.' This isbecause there are among them priests and monks (i.e., persons entirely devoted to theservice of God, as were the Muslims), and because they are not proud." Some Christiandenominations are making tremendous progress now by acknowledging for the first time in

history that Muhammad descended from Ishmael through his second son Kedar. The DavisDictionary of the Bible (1980), sponsored by the Board of Christian Education of thePresbyterian Church in the USA, writes under the word "Kedar": "... A tribe descendedfrom Ishmael (Gen. 25:13) ... The people of Kedar were Pliny's Cedrai, and from theirtribe Mohammed ultimately arose." The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia quotesthe following from A. S. Fulton: "... Of the Ishmaelite tribes, Kedar must have been one ofthe most important and thus in later times the name came to be applied to all the wild tribesof the desert. It is through Kedar ("Keidar" in Arabic) that Muslim genealogists trace thedescent of Mohammed from Ishmael."

Also Smith's Bible Dictionary prints the following: "Kedar (black). Second son of Ishmael(Gen. 25:13) ... Mohammed traces his lineage to Abraham through the celebrated Koreishtribe, which sprang from Kedar. The Arabs in the Hejaz are called Beni Harb (men ofwar), and are Ishmaelites as of old, from their beginning. Palgrave says their language is aspure now as when the Koran was written (A.D. 610), having remained unchanged morethan 1200 years; a fine proof of the permanency of Eastern Institutions."

The biggest asset brought by Muslim immigrants to the West is not their manpower butIslam, which is now taking root here. Many mosques and Islamic centers have beenestablished and many people have reverted to Islam. I prefer the word "reverted" and not"converted," as everybody is born in submission to Allah—Islam—and so being a Muslimis the nature of every single individual. The parents or the community convert him toJudaism, Christianity, other faiths, or atheism.

This is also a proof that Islam is not spreading by the sword but simply by propagation onthe part of Muslim individuals or groups. We don't have special missions organized as inChristian missions.

The world population has increased 136 percent from 1934 through 1984, Christianity with47 percent and Islam with 235 percent. These figures can be checked in The Plain Truth,February 1984, in its fiftieth anniversary issue, quoting from The World Almanac andBook of Facts 1935, and The Reader's Digest Almanac and Yearbook 1983.

C. If all three religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, claim to emanate from the Oneand same Creator, why do they differ?

M. All prophets from Adam to Muhammad were sent with the same message: man's totalsubmission to Allah. In Arabic, this submission is called "Islam," which also means peace,peace between the Creator and His creatures. Unlike the names Judaism and Christianity,the name Islam was given by Allah Himself, as mentioned in Surah 5:3: This day I haveperfected your religion for you and completed My favor on you, and have chosen for youIslam as your way of life. Neither "Judaism" nor "Christianity" is found in the Bible or in aBible dictionary. No Israelite prophet said the word "Judaism." Jesus never claimed toestablish Christianity and never called himself a Christian. The word "Christian" ismentioned only three times in the New Testament and first by pagans and Jews in Antiochabout 43 A.D., long after Jesus had left this earth. Read in Acts 11:26: "... And thedisciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

Later by King Agrippa II to Paul in Acts 26:28: "Then Agrippa said unto Paul" Almost thoupersuades" me to be a Christian.' '

So the name Christian was first given by foes rather than friends. And finally by Peter inhis letter to comfort the faithful in I Peter 4: 16: "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, lethim not be ashamed.... "

The first Muslim on earth was not Muhammad but Abraham, who submitted totally toAllah. But Islam as a way of life had been revealed to other prophets prior to Abraham,such as Adam and Noah. Then Islam follows as the way of life for all humanity.

C. How could Abraham be a Muslim? It is known that he was a Jew.

M. A Jew? Who told you that?

C. We are taught that, so it must be confirmed by the Bible.

M. Can you show me where in the Bible it says that he was a Jew? If you can't find itquickly, let me help you. Read Genesis 11:31.

C. "And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai hisdaughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife, and they went forth with them from Ur of theChaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran and dwelt there."

M. So Abraham who was born in Ur of Chaldees could not have been a Jew. First becauseUr of Chaldees was in Mesopotamia, which is now a part of Iraq. He was then more anArab than a Jew. Secondly the name "Jew" came after the existence of Judah, thegreat-grandson of Abraham (see chart on page 4). Read further, Genesis 12:4 and 5.

C. " ... and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.... andinto the land of Canaan they came.

M. So Abraham emigrated to Canaan at the age of seventy-five and the Bible clearlymentioned that he was there a stranger m Genesis 17:8: "And I will give unto thee, and tothy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for aneverlasting possession; and I will be their God." Read now Genesis 14:13.

C. "And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew.... "

M. How can you call Abraham a Jew if the Bible itself calls him a Hebrew which means aman from the other side of the Euphrates. It also means pertaining to Eber, a descendant ofShem. Read now in Genesis 32:28 what happened to the name of Jacob after wrestlingwith an angel.

C. "And he said: 'Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hastthou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.'"

M. So Abraham was a Hebrew. The descendants of Jacob were Israelites consisting of thetwelve tribes. Judah was nicknamed "Jew" so that only Judah's descendants were calledJews originally. To know who Moses really was, read Exodus 6:16-20.

C. "And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Ghershon,and Kohath, and Merari.... And the sons of Kohath: Amram.... And Amram took himJochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses."

M. So Moses was not a Jew, because he was not descended from Judah, but a Levite.Moses was the "law-giver" (Torah is law) to the children of Israel.

C. How can you explain that?

M. Because we are using the Holy Qur'an as standard. You can explain the Bible andcorrect the Jewish and Christian prejudice with the context of the Qur'an. It is the lastrevealed book and has never been corrupted or adulterated. Its contents has beenguaranteed by Allah in Surah 2:2: This is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt... andalso in Surah 15:9: No doubt We have sent down the Qur'an and surely We will guard it(from corruption). This verse is a challenge to mankind. It is a clear fact that more thanfourteen hundred years have passed and not a single word of this Qur'an has been changedalthough disbelievers tried their utmost to change it, but they failed miserably in theirefforts. As it is mentioned in this Holy Verse: "We will guard this Book" by Allah, He hasguarded it.

On the contrary, all the other holy books (Torah, Psalms, Gospels etc.) have beenadulterated in the form of additions, deletions or alterations from the original.

C. What does the Qur'an say about Abraham and Moses that you can deduce from theBible?

M. In Surah 3:65:

O people of the Scripture [Jews and Christians]! Why do you dispute about Abraham,while the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have you then no sense?

And in Surah 3:67:

Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim (worshiper of nonebut Allah alone) and he joined none in worship with Allah.

In Surah 2:140:

Or say you that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the twelve sons of Jacob were Jews orChristians? Say (of Muhammad), 'Do you know better or does Allah? And who is moreunjust than he who conceals the testimony he has from Allah?' And Allah is not unaware ofwhat you do. Of course they were not Jews or Christians, as the name "Jews" came afterJudah and the name "Christians" came long after Jesus had left.

C. It feels strange to hear the name Allah. Why don't you say "God" if you speak English?

M. Yes, indeed, the name "Allah" seems to be strange to non-Muslims, but this name hasbeen used by all prophets since Adam until Muhammad. It is a contraction of the twoArabic words Al-Ilah, i.e., The God. By dropping the letter "I," you will find the wordAllah. According to its position in an Arabic sentence, it can have the form "Allaha," whichis close to the Hebrew name of the Creator, i.e. "Eloha." But the Jews are using wronglythe plural form "Elohim," which denotes more than one God. The word "Allaha" soundscloser to the Aramaic word for God used by Jesus, namely, "Alaha" (see EncyclopediaBritannica 1980 under "Allah" and "Elohim"). So while the name "Allah" is strange tonon-Muslims, it is not strange to all prophets from Adam to Muhammad, as theypropagated in principle the same Islam—total submission—and the word "Allah" denotesthe personal name of the Supreme Being. It is not subject to plurality or gender, so there isno such thing as "Allahs," or a male or female "Allah," as is the case with Gods or Godand Goddess. It is confusing to use the word God, as many English-speaking Christiansconsider Jesus as God. Even the word "Creator" is also confusing, as many Christiansmaintain that Jesus created the world. Not only the name "Allah" is strange, but also theway Muslims worship Allah with ablution, bowing, kneeling, prostration and fasting isstrange to non- Muslims, but not strange to all of the prophets. While ablution (washing of

face, arms, feet, and moistening of the hair) prior to worship is not done by modernChristians, it is required of Muslims and previous prophets, as seen in the followingbiblical passages: Exodus 40:31-32: "And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed theirhands and their feet thereat; When they went into the tent of the congregation, and whenthey came near unto the altar, they washed; as the Lord commanded Moses." AlthoughPaul made many changes in Jesus' teaching, he was faithful in respect to ablution, as seenin Acts 21:26: "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with thementered into the temple'..." Muslim women perform their prayer with their head covered, asin I Corinthians 11:5-6, 13: "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her headuncovered dishonourerh her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if thewoman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shornor shaven, let her be covered.... Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray untoGod uncovered" Muslims worship with bowing, kneeling, prostration, and without shoes1 , as was done by previous prophets: Psalms 95:6: "O come, let us worship and bowdown: let us kneel before the Lord our maker"; Joshua 5: 14: "And Joshua fell on his faceto the earth, and did worship''; I Kings 18:42: "And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel;and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees"; Numbers20:6: "... and they [Moses and Aaron] fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lordappeared upon them"; Genesis 17:3: "And Abram fell on his face: and God talked withhim, saying ...", and Exodus 3:5 and Acts 7:33: "And he [God] said [to Moses], 'Drawnot nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest isholy ground."'

A Christian will be very surprised to learn that the pilgrimage (hajj), which consists ofMuslims circumambulating around the sacred stone (i.e., the Ka'bah) in Makkah, had beenperformed by many prophets, even by Israelite prophets.

C. I never read anything about the pilgrimage or the sacred stone (i.e., Ka'bah) in theBible.

M. This has been mentioned clearly several times but is usually overlooked by those whoread the Bible. For example:

1. Jacob, on his way to Padan-aram, saw a vision and built the next morning a pillar ofstone which he called Beth-EI, i.e. the House of the Lord (Genesis 28:18- 19).

2. Years later the same Prophet, Jacob, was ordered by Allah to go to Bethel (Genesis35:4, 14-15). Jacob removed all of the strange gods prior to going there. Later, ProphetMuhammad also removed all idols around the sacred stone (i.e., Ka'bah in Makkah).

3. Another pillar was built by Jacob and his father-in-law, Laban, (Genesis 31:45-49):"And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. And Jacob said unto his brethren:'Gather stones.' And they took stones, and made a heap; and they did eat there upon theheap. And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed ... and Mizpah, forhe said: 'The Lord watch between me and thee ..."'

4. Jephthah and Ammon had a war against each other. Jephthah swore to the Lord inMizpah of Gilead to sacrifice his only daughter if he won. He did win, and burnt hisdaughter there alive as an offering to the Lord (Judges 11:29-39).

5. Four hundred thousand swordsmen from the eleven tribes of Israel swore before theLord in Mizpeh to exterminate the tribes of Benjamin (Judges 20 and 21).

6. The children of Israel, under Samuel, swore in Mizpeh to destroy their idols if they wonagainst the Philistines (I Samuel 7).

7. The whole nation of Israel assembled in Mizpeh when Samuel was appointed king ofIsrael (I Samuel 10).

It is obvious now that there is no Mizpah left in the world, except the oldest one in the HolyCity of Makkah built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, from whom later ProphetMuhammad arose. Muslims are really the followers of all prophets. I can tell you otherthings about Muslims, Islam and Muhammad in the Bible, but why should you know thisif you are not looking for the truth?

C. I am sure of my own belief as a Christian but I would also like to know more about bothreligions. I sometimes feel ridiculed as a Christian after reading books written by Muslims.

M. Did it affect you in your religious life?

C. Yes. I am not going to Church as regularly as before. I have been secretly readingbooks written by Muslims. I have asked several Muslims to explain matters that were notclear to me, but have not yet been satisfied. I am looking for a belief that I can rely on, thatcan give me peace of mind, that is scientifically acceptable, and one that I don't have tobelieve in blindly.

M. I appreciate your sentiments. However, as we are not allowed to force people tobecome Muslim, I want to be sure that you are really interested in learning the truth before Icontinue.

C. You mean that I can believe what I want and that nobody can force me to believe insomething else?

M. Yes, for the Qur'an says that there is no compulsion in religion.

C. Then why are Muslims calling other people to accept Islam?

M. As Christians ask the Jews to accept Jesus as the Messiah, we Muslims ask theChristians, as well as Jews and all mankind, to accept Muhammad as the seal of theprophets. Our Prophet Muhammad said: "Convey my message, even one ayah (verse of theHoly Qur'an)."

Also, Isaiah mentioned in chapter 21:13: "The burden upon Arabia," which means theresponsibility of the Muslim Arabs, to spread Islam. Isaiah mentioned this after he saw in avision a chariot of asses and a chariot of camels (21:7): "And he saw a chariot with a coupleof horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently withmuch heed."

The chariot of asses turned out to be Jesus, who entered Jerusalem (John 12: 14; Matthew21: 5). Who then was the chariot of camels? It could not be other than Muhammad, whocame about six hundred years after the advent of Jesus. If this is not accepted, then thisprophecy has not yet been fulfilled.

C. Your explanation stimulates me to review the Bible more carefully. I would like to havemore discussions with you.

M. Yes, if you are successful in this world, it doesn't mean that you will be successful inthe hereafter. The hereafter is much better and more lasting than this life. People are nowbecoming more materialistic and secular. Let's meet some more and discuss the differencesfrankly and without prejudice. Islam is based on reason, and you should not just accept it.Even your Bible says: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (I Thessalonians5:21).

C. You mentioned just now a "chariot of camels" from Isaiah and drew the conclusion thatit was Muhammad. Is he then prophesied in the Bible?

M. Sure.

C. In the Old or New Testament?

M. In both. But you cannot recognize him in the Bible as long as you don't believe in theoneness of God. As long as you still believe ~n the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, the divineson ship of Jesus, and the doctrines of Original Sin and Atonement. All of these were madeby men. Jesus prophesied that people would worship him uselessly and believe indoctrines made by men: "But in vain they do worship me teaching for doctrines thecommandments of men" (Matthew 15:9).

The Holy Bible

M. Are you sure that the Bible is holy?

C. Yes, I am very sure about it, for it is God's Word.

M. Read what Luke said about his recording in 1:2-3.

C. "Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses,and ministers of the word. It seemed good to me also, having held perfect understanding ofall things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus."

M. If Luke had said that he himself was not an eyewitness and the knowledge he gatheredwas from eyewitnesses and not as words inspired by God, would you still believe that theBible is God's word?

C. Maybe only this part is not God's word.

M. History has shown that the Bible has been changed. The Revised Standard Version(1952 and 1971), The New American Standard Bible and The New World Translation haveexpunged certain verses that are found in The King James Version. The Reader's Digesthas reduced the Old Testament by 50 percent and the New Testament by about 25 percent.Some years ago Christian theologians wanted to "desex" the Bible. Does "holy" mean thatthe Bible is free from error?

C. Yes, that is so. But what kind of error do you mean?

M. Suppose one verse states that a certain person died at the age of fifty years and anotherverse states that the same person died at the age of sixty years? Can both statements beright?

C. No, for only one can be right or both are wrong.

M. If a holy book contains conflicting verses, do you still consider it holy? -

C. Of course not, because a holy scripture is a revelation from God. Therefore, it should beimpossible that mistakes or conflicting verses could be found in it.

M. Then it's not holy.

C. Right. In that case, its holiness disappears.

M. If so, you can't trust it one hundred percent. What could be the causes of suchmistakes?

C. It could be a mistake in the recording or deliberate changes by scribes, such as deletionor addition in it.

M. If there are conflicting verses in the Bible, do you still consider it holy?

C. I believe that the Bible is holy, since I see no conflicting verses

M. There are many conflicting verses in it.

C. In the Old or New Testament?

M. In both Testaments. These are some of them:

II Samuel 8:4And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven hundred horsemen, andtwenty thousand footmen ...

I Chronicles 18:4And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen, andtwenty thousand footmen ...

Q. Seven hundred or seven thousand?

II Samuel 8:9-10When Toi, king of Hamath, heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,then Toi sent Joram, his son, unto King David to salute him and to bless him,because he had fought against Hadadezer and had smitten him, for Hadadezer hadwars with Toil. And Joram took with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold,and vessels of brass.

I Chronicles 18:9-10Now when Tou, king of Hamath, heard how David had smitten all the host ofHadarezer, king of Zobah, he sent Hadoram, his son, to King David to enquire ofhis welfare and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer andhad smitten him (for Hadarezer had made war withTou); and with him all mannerof vessels of gold and silver and brass.

Q. Toi or Tou, Joram or Hadoram, Hadadezer or Hadarezer?

I Samuel 10:18And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew the men of seven hundredchariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach, thecaptain of their host, who died there.

I Chronicles 19:18But the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians seven thousandmen which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach,the captain of their host.

Q. Seven hundred chariots or seven thousand men? Forty thousand horsemen or footmen?Shobach or Shophach?

.

II Kings 8:26Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign.

II Chronicles 22:2Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign. .

Q. Twenty-two or forty-two years?

II Kings 24:8Jehoiachim was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned inJerusalem three months.

II Chronicles 36:9Jehoiachim was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned threemonths and ten days in Jerusalem.

Q. Eighteen years or eight years? Three months or three months and ten days?

II Samuel 23:8These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that satin the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lifted up hisspear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

I Chronicles 11:11And this is the number of the mighty men who David had: Jashobeam, anHachmonite, the chief of the captains; he lifted up his spear against three hundredslain by him at one time.

Q. Tachmonite or Hachmonite? Eight hundred or three hundred?

II Samuel 24:1And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved Davidagainst them to say: "Go, number Israel and Judah."

I Chronicles 21:1And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

Q. Is Satan the Lord of David? May God forbid it!

II Samuel 6:23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death.

II Samuel 21:8But the king took the two sons of Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, whom she boreunto Saul, Arrnoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal, the daughter ofSaul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzilai the Meholthite.

Q. Did Michal have children or not?

Note: The name Michal in II Samuel 21:8 is still present in The King James version andThe New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures used by the Jehovah's Witnesses, buthas been changed to Merab in The New American Standard Bible (1973).

C. I never saw any of these before. Are there many more?

M. Do you still need to hear more? Are these examples not sufficient to deny its holiness?See Genesis 6:3: "And the Lord said: 'My spirit shall not always strive with man, for thathe also is flesh: yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."

But how old was Noah when he died? More than a hundred and twenty years. See Genesis9:29: "And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years when he died." SomeChristian theologians claim that this does not mean that the maximum age of man will be ahundred and twenty years, but that the Flood would come in a hundred and twenty years.Even this doesn't fit, because at the time of the Flood Noah would have been six hundredand twenty (500 + 120) years old. However, the Bible states that he was six hundredyears. Study Genesis 5:32: "And Noah was five hundred years old . . ."; Genesis 7:6:"And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth."

Christianity believes that God created man in His image: white, black or another color,male or female? This is according to Genesis 1:26: "And God said: 'Let Us make man inour image, after our likeness . . ." But this contradicts Isaiah 40:18, 25: "To whom thenwill ye liken God? Or what likeness will ye compare unto him? . . . 'To whom then will yeliken Me, or shall I be equal?' saith the Holy One." See also Psalm 89:6: "For who in theheaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likenedunto the Lord?" and Jeremiah 10:6,7: "For as much as there is none like unto Thee, O Lord. . . there is none like unto Thee."

C. But all these are in the Old Testament.

M. Well then, let's go to the New Testament.

John 5:37Ye have neither heard His [God's] voice at any time, nor seen His shape.

John 14:9... he that has seen me has seen the Father ...

John 5:31If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

John 8:14Jesus answered and said unto them: "Though I bear record of myself, yet my record istrue."

These are only some of the contradictions in the New Testament. You will find more if wediscuss the truth of such doctrines of modern Christianity as the Trinity, the divinity ofJesus Christ, the divine sonship of Jesus, Original Sin and Atonement, not to mention thebiblical accounts of many prophets engaging in degrading activities: worshipping falsegods and committing incest, rape, and adultery.

C. Where do you find that in the Bible?

M. Noah is reported to have been drunk to the point of becoming naked in the presence ofhis grownup sons (Genesis 9:23-24): "And Shem and Japhet took a garment, and laid itupon both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father;and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. And Noahawoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him."

Solomon was accused not only of having a large harem but also of worshipping false gods(I Kings 11:9-10): "And the Lord was angry with Solomon ... And had commanded himconcerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which theLord commanded. "

Aaron, a prophet who accompanied his brother Moses on his mission to Pharaoh, wasaccused of having fashioned the golden calf for the Israelites to worship (Exodus 32:4):"And he [Aaron] received them [golden earrings] at their hand, and fashioned it with agraving tool, after he had made it a golden calf: and they said: 'These be thy gods, O Israel,which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."'

You can read of Prophet Lot's incestuous encounter with his two daughters (Genesis19:36): "Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father."

You can read of a prophet who was married to two sisters at the same time (Genesis29:28): "And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he [Laban] gave him Rachel hisdaughter to wife also."

And another prophet accused of adultery (II Samuel 11:4-5): "And David sent messengers,and took her [the wife of Uriah], and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for shewas purified from her uncleanness; and she returned unto her house. And the womanconceived, and sent and told David, and said: 'I am with child."'

My question is: How could David be accepted in the genealogy of Jesus when it startedwith a person who committed adultery? May Allah forbid it! Does this not contradict what

is mentioned in Deuteronomy 23:2: "A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of theLord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord."

Another allegation is that of incest along with rape by Ammon, the son of David, on hishalf-sister Tamar (II Samuel 13: 14): "Howbeit he [Ammon] would not hearken unto hervoice, but being stronger than she [Tamer], forced her and lay with her."

Still another multiple rape, by Absalom on David's concubines, is recounted in II Samuel16:33: "So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house, and Absalom went inunto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel."

Another incest, by Judah and Tamar (his daughter-in-law): "Judah on his way to Timnathto shear his sheep saw Tamar. He thought her to be a harlot because she had her facecovered (Genesis 38: 18): ". . . And he [Judah] gave it [signet, bracelet and staff] to her,and came in unto her and she conceived by him."

Although Jews and Muslims often have differing views, no Muslim would dare to write abook and stamp any Israelite prophet like Judah, David, Jesus, and so on with rape,adultery, incest, or prostitution. All prophets were sent by Allah for the guidance ofmankind. Do you think that God had sent the wrong people for guidance?

C. I don't think so. But don't you believe in the Bible?

M. We believe in all divine scriptures, but in their original form. God sent a prophet as awarner to each nation, and some of them with a scripture as a guidance for that particularnation only. The Suhuf was brought by Abraham, the Torah (part of the Old Testament) byMoses, the Zabur (Psalms) by David, and the Injil (New Testament) by Jesus. None of thethese scriptures remains in their original form. As part of Allah's original plan, He finallysent Muhammad as the seal of all prophets and with the Qur'an as a guidance for allmankind, anywhere and anytime.

Jesus himself said that he was sent only to the people of Israel (Matthew 15:24): "I am notsent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Also (Matthew 1:21): "And she shallbring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from theirsins." He even said that he came not to make changes but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17-18):"Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, butto fulfill. For verily I say unto you: 'Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall inno wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled."'

C. But in Mark 16:15 Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to everycreature."

M. This contradicts what is mentioned above in Matthew 15:24 and Matthew 1:21.Secondly, Mark 16:9-20 has been expunged in many Bibles. The New American StandardBible has put this part in brackets and made the following commentary: "Some of the oldestmss. omit from verse 9 through 20." The New World Translation of the Holy Scripturesused by the Jehovah's Witnesses admits that certain ancient manuscripts add a longconclusion or a short conclusion after Mark 16:8 but that some omit those verses. And TheRevised Standard version prints the following footnote: "Some of the most ancientauthorities bring the book to a close at the end of verse 8 ..." This means that theresurrection is not true, as it is described in Mark 16:9.

C. But Jesus said in Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore and teach all nations ..."

M. "All nations" must be explained as the twelve tribes of Israel, otherwise it contradictsMatthew 15:24 and Matthew 1:21. In The New American Standard Bible and The NewWorld Translation of the Holy Scriptures, it is not translated as "all nations" but as "all thenations," which means the twelve tribes of Israel. What do you think of the Bible now?

C. I am not so sure about its holiness now.

M. I am sure you will be convinced of the authenticity of Islam after we have discussed ourdifferences.

The Doctrine of the Trinity

M. Do you still believe in the Trinity?

C. It is said in the First Epistle of John 5:7-8: "For there are three that bear record inheaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. And there arethree that bear witness in earth: the spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these threeagree in one."

M. That is in The King James Version, authorized in 1611, and formed the strongestevidence for the doctrine of the Trinity. But now this part, "the Father, the Word, and theHoly Ghost: and these three are one," has been expunged in The Revised Standard Versionof 1952 and 1971 and in many other Bibles, as it was a gloss that had encroached on theGreek text.

I John 5:7-8 in The New American Standard Bible says: "And it is the Spirit who bearswitness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit and thewater, and the blood, and the three are in agreement." Also, in The New World Translationof the Holy Scriptures, used by the Jehovah's Witnesses, you will find: "For there arethree witness bearers: the spirit, and the water, and the blood, and the three are inagreement." I can understand if you don't know that this important part has been removed,but I wonder why many ministers and preachers are not aware of this.

The Trinity is not biblical. The word "Trinity" is not even in the Bible or Bible dictionaries.It was never taught or mentioned by Jesus. There is no basis or proof in the Bible for itsacceptance.

C. But in Matthew 28: 19 we still find: "... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and ofthe Son, and of the Holy Spirit." This part has not been removed yet. Is this not a proof ofthe Trinity?

M. No. If three persons are sitting or eating together, does it mean that they form oneperson? No. The formulation of the Trinity by Athanasius, an Egyptian deacon fromAlexandria, was accepted by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD—more than three centuriesafter Jesus had left. No doubt Roman paganism had an influence on this doctrine of a triunegod. The Sabbath was shifted to Sunday and December 25, the birthday of their sun-godMithra, was introduced as Jesus' birthday, although the Bible clearly predicted and forbadethe decoration of Christmas trees in Jeremiah 10:2-5: "Thus saith the Lord: 'Learn not theway of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen aredismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of theforest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it with silver andwith gold, they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as

the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be notafraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."

As Christianity deviated far from the original teachings of Jesus, Allah sent His lastprophet, Muhammad, as a revivalist to undo changes made by man: the Roman Juliancalendar was introduced as the Christian era; Pork was allowed; circumcision wasabolished by Paul (Galatians 5:2~: "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised,Christ shall profit you nothing."

The Qur'an warns in Surah 5:73: Surely they are disbelievers, those who said: 'Allah isone of the three in a Trinity.' But there is none who has the right to be worshipped but oneGod (Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily a painful torment will befallthe disbelievers among them. Do you still believe in the Trinity, which was never taught byJesus?

C. But God and Jesus are one (John 14: 11): "Believe me that I am in the Father, and theFather in me."

M. Read John 17:21.

C. "That they [the disciples] all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, thatthey may also be one in us ..."

M. It is clear here that God and Jesus are one, and that the disciples are one in Jesus andGod. If Jesus is God because he is in God, why are the disciples then not God, as they arelike Jesus, who is in God? If God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost form one unit—theTrinity—with the disciples included they should form a fifteen-unit God.

C. But Jesus is God according to John 14:9: "... he that hath seen me hath seen theFather."

M. Look at what comes before and after: (John 14:8): "Philip saith unto him: 'Lord, showus the Father, and it aufficeth us."' (John 14:9): "Jesus saith unto him: 'Have I been solong time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hastseen the Father; and how sayest thou then: Shew us the Father?"'

Jesus asked Philip how to show God to the disciples, which is impossible. You shouldbelieve in God by admiring His creation: the sun, the moon, all creation, and Jesus, whowas created by God. He said in John 4:24: "God is a Spirit" and in John 5:37: "Ye haveneither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape." How can you see a spirit? Whatthey saw was Jesus, not God. Paul said in I Timothy 6: 16: "... whom no man hath seen,nor can see." So what you see is not God. The Qur'an says in Surah 5:103: "Visioncomprehends Him not, but He comprehends (all) vision. He is the Subtle, the Aware."

C. It is hard to deny what has been taught to us since childhood.

M. Maybe the following questions will give you a better understanding of the Trinity: Whatis the Holy Spirit?

C. The Holy Spirit is the Holy Ghost and is also God. We are taught that the Father isGod, the Son is God, the Holy Ghost is God. We are not allowed to say Three Gods, butOne God.

M. Read Matthew 1:18.

C. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: When as his mother Mary wasespoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the HolyGhost."

M. Compare this with Luke 1:26-27.

C. "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee,named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house ofDavid; and the virgin's name was Mary."

M. In Jesus' miraculous birth Matthew mentioned the Holy Ghost and Luke mentioned theangel Gabriel. What is the Holy Ghost?

C. That being the case, the Holy Ghost is the angel Gabriel.

M. Do you still believe in the Trinity now?

C. Then God is God and the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel, and Jesusis ...

M. Let me help you: Jesus is a prophet, the son of Mary.

C. How can you solve what we call a divine mystery?

M. We use the Qur'an as the standard to correct man-made changes in previously revealedscriptures. If you believe in One God, and Jesus as a prophet, why don't you go one stepfurther and accept Muhammad as the last messenger? Recite after me the shahadah orwitness (testimony), first in English and then in Arabic.

C. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, Who has no partner, and Muhammadis His servant and messenger. Ashhadu an la illaha illa Allahu wahdahu la sharikah lahu waashhadu anna Muhammadan abdahu wa rasuluhu.

But what about my great- grandparents? I would like to stay with them. They were allChristians.

M. Abraham left his parents and great-grandparents when the truth— Islam—was revealedto him. Everyone is responsible for himself. Maybe the truth hadn't come to your ancestorsas clearly as it has to you. The Qur'an says in Surah 17:15: Whoever goes right, then, hegoes right only for his own soul's benefit. And whoever goes astray, then he goes astrayonly to his own loss. No laden soul can bear another's load. And We never punish untilWe have sent an apostle (to give warnings). The Truth has come to you and it is up to you.

C. Can I accept both Islam and Christianity?

M. There is no force in religion. You can do what you want. But if YOU combine bothfaiths, it means you haven't surrendered to Allah. You are still a disbeliever, as He states inSurah 4:150-52: Verily those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish tomake distinction between Allah and His messengers [by believing in Allah and disbelievingin His messengers] saying: 'We believe in some and reject others,' and wish to take a wayin between [this and] that: They are disbelievers in truth. And We have prepared fordisbelievers a humiliating torment. To those who believe in Allah and His messengers andmake no distinction between any of them [messengers], We shall give them their rewards,

and Allah is ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. You may agree with me if we discusssome other issues.

C. Should we recite a confession (shahadah) before we are fully committed?

M. As soon as you reach adulthood and you are mentally competent, you are thencommitted whether you recite the shahadah or not. Allah created this world for a purpose.He has supplied you with the organs to differentiate between right and wrong. He has sentmany prophets as warners. We are created to worship Him and to compete with each otherin good deeds in this world.

Surah 3:191: ... Our Lord! You have not created [all] this without purpose, Glory to You!... "

Surah 90:8-10: Have We not made for him [mankind] a pair of eyes? And a tongue and apair of lips? And shown him the two ways [good and evil]?

Surah 51:56: And I created not the jinns and mankind except they should worship Me[alone]. (Every deed for the pleasure of Allah is worship.)

Surah 18:7: Verily! We have made that which is on earth as an adornment for it [the earth]in order that We may test them [mankind] as to which of them is better in deeds.

The Doctrine of the Divinity of Jesus Christ

M. Is Jesus God?

C. Yes. In the Gospel according to John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and theWord was with God, and the Word was Cod."

M. We have agreed that a holy scripture should not contain contradictions. If there are twoconflicting verses, then only one can be true or both are wrong, for both cannot be correct.

According to John l:1 Jesus is God. Then how many Gods are there? Two at least. Thiscontradicts many passages in the Bible: Deuteronomy 4:39: "... that the Lord He is God inheaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else"; Deuteronomy 6:4: "Hear, OIsrael: The Lord our God is one Lord", (Isaiah 43:10-11): "... that ye may know andbelieve Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neithershall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no savior"; (Isaiah44:6): "Thus saith the Lord ... I am the first, and I am the last, and beside Me there is noGod"; (Isaiah 45:18): "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself thatformed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed itto be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else."

From Isaiah 45:18 we can conclude that God alone was the Creator and that no one else,not even Jesus, participated in the creation.

You should also read Deuteronomy 4:35; Exodus 8:10; II Samuel 7:22; I Kings 8:23; IChronicles 17:20; Psalms 86:8, 89:6 and 113:5; Hosea 13:4; and Zechariah 14:9.

C. But these are all in the Old Testament. Do you find these same statements in the NewTestament?

M. Sure. Read Mark 12:29, where it is recorded that Jesus himself said: "And Jesusanswered him: 'The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God isone Lord."'

I Corinthians 8:4: "... we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is noneother God but one"; (I Timothy 2:5): "For there is one God, and one mediator betweenGod and men, the man Christ Jesus." Look at the expression "the man Christ Jesus." Nowyou can either say that John 1:1 is right and all these other verses are wrong, or vice versa.

C. How can anybody make such a judgment?

M. Lets look at it from the Qur'anic point of view, which corresponds with what Jesushimself said in the Bible. Jesus is mentioned several times in the Qur'an as a "Word fromAllah." In Surah 3:39: Then the angels called to him [Zechariah] while he was standing inprayer in the chamber (saying): "Allah gives you glad tidings of John [the Baptist]believing in a Word from Allah [Jesus, son of Mary], noble, keeping away from sexualrelations with women, a prophet, and one of the righteous."

In Surah 3:45: [Remember] when the angels said: "O Mary! Verily Allah gives you the gladtidings of a Word from Him, his name will be Messiah Jesus, the son of Mary, held inhonor in this world and the Hereafter, and of those who are near to Allah." In both verses,Jesus is called a "Word from Allah," by which is meant a Word coming from Allah orbelonging to Allah, in correspondence with I Corinthians 3:23: "And ye are Christ's; andChrist is God's." John 1:1 should also have been written: "... and the Word was God's."The mistake could have been in the translation from Aramaic to Greek, deliberately or not.In the Greek language, Theos is God, while Theou means God's (see any Greek dictionaryor Bible, or Muhammad in the Bible by Prof. Abdul Ahad Dawud, former Bishop ofUramiah, page 16). This difference of only one letter has major consequences.

C. Why is Jesus called the "Word of God" in both scriptures?

M. The creation of Jesus in Mary's womb was without sperm, for it was the result of thedecree of Allah: "Be" as mentioned in the Surah 3:47: She [Mary] said; "O, my Lord! Howshall I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said: "So [it will be], for Allahcreates what He will. When He has decreed something, He says to it only 'Be' and it is."

C. Jesus is God because he is filled with the Holy Spirit.

M. But there are other people who have been filled with the Holy Ghost? Are they alsodivine? Look at Acts 11:24: "For he [Barnabas] was a good man, and full of the HolyGhost and of faith; and many people were added unto the Lord" and Acts 5:32: "And weare his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given tothem that obey him." You should also read Acts 6:5; II Peter 1:21; II Timothy 1:14; ICorinthians 2:16; Luke 1:41.

C. But Jesus was filled with the Holy Ghost while he was still in his mother's womb.

M. The same was true with John the Baptist, for we read in Luke 1: 13, IS: "But the angelsaid unto him: 'Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shallbear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. For he shall be great in the sight of theLord, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. "'

C. But Jesus could do miracles. He fed five thousand people with only five loaves and twofishes.

M. The same was done by Elisha and Elijah. Elisha fed a hundred people with twentybarley loaves and a few ears of corn, for II Kings 4:44 relates: "So he set it before them,and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the Lord." Elisha secured theincrease of a widow's oil and he said to her, in II Kings 4:7: "Go, sell the oil, and pay thydebt, and live thou and thy children of the rest." See also I Kings 17:16: "And the barrel ofmeal wasted not neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, whichhe speak by Elijah." Also I Kings 17:6: "And the ravens brought him [Elijah] bread andflesh in the morning, bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook."

C. But Jesus could heal leprosy.

M. So could Elisha, who told Naaman the leper to wash in the Jordan river. As recountedin II Kings 5:14: "Then went he [Naaman] down and dipped himself seven times inJordan, according to the saying of the man of God [Elisha]: and his flesh came again likeunto a flesh of a little child, and he was clean."

C. But Jesus could cause a blind man to see again.

M. So could Elisha: II Kings 6:17: "And Elisha prayed, and said: 'Lord, I pray thee, openhis eyes, that he may see.' And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man: and he saw...", II Kings 6:20: "And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elishasaid: 'Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.' And the Lord opened theireyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria."

Elisha was also told to cause blindness: 11 Kings 6: 18: "And when they came down tohim, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said: 'Smite this people, I pray thee, withblindness.' And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha."

C. Jesus could raise the dead.

M. Compare that with Elijah: I Kings 17:22: "And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah: andthe soul of the child came into him again, and he revived." Such a miracle was alsoattributed to Elisha: II Kings 4:34: "And he [Elisha] went up, and lay upon the child, andput his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands,and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm."

Even touching the bones of Elisha could restore a dead body to life: II Kings 13:21: "And itcame to Dass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; andthey cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, andtouched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet."

C. But Jesus walked upon the water.

M. Moses stretched out his arms over the sea: Exodus 14:22: "And the children of Israelwent into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground; and the waters were a wall unto themon their right hand, and on their left."

C. But Jesus could cast out devils.

M. Jesus himself admitted that other people could do it: Matthew 12:27 and Luke 11:19:"And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Thereforeshall they be your judges. "

Also the disciples could cast out devils, as Jesus said: Matthew 7:22: "Many will say to mein that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast outdevils, and in thy name done many wonderful works?"

Even false prophets would do wonders, as prophesied by Jesus himself: Matthew 24:24:"For there shall arise false Christ, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs andwonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

C. But Elijah and Elisha did wonders through praying to the Lord.

M. Jesus also did the miracles with the grace of God, as he himself said: John 5:30: "I canof mine own self do nothing ..." and Luke 11:2): "But if I with the finger of God cast outdevils, no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you."

All miracles performed by Jesus have been done by previous prophets, disciples, and evenunbelievers. On the other hand, Jesus could do no mighty work where there was unbelief:Mark 6:5-6: "And he could there do no mighty work save that he laid his hands upon a fewsick folk, and healed them. and he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went aroundabout the villages, teaching."

C. But Jesus was resurrected three days after he died.

M. We will talk about his crucifixion later, because there are so many controversies aboutit. For now, I'll only say that this was said by Paul, who never saw Jesus alive: II Timothy2:8: "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead accordingto my gospel."

The gospel of resurrection in Mark 16:9-20 has also been removed in many Bibles. If it hasnot been removed, it is printed in small print or between two brackets and withcommentary. See The Revised Standard version, The New American Standard Bible, andThe New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Let me askyou one thing: D~d Jesus ever claim to be God or to say: "Here am I, your God, andworship me?"

C. No, but he is God and man.

M. But did he ever claim that?

C. No.

M. Indeed, he prophesied that people would worship him uselessly and would believe indoctrines made not by God but by man: Matthew 15:9: "But in vain they do worship me,teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

All doctrines of modern Christianity are made by men: the Trinity, the divine sonship ofJesus, the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the doctrines Original Sin and Atonement. FromJesus' own sayings, recorded in the New Testament, it is clear that he never claimeddivinity or identity with God: "I do nothing of myself" (John 8:28); "My Father is greaterthan I" (John 14:28~; "The Lord our God is one Lord" (Mark 12: 29); "My God, my God,why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34); and "Father, into Thy hands I commend myspirit" (Luke 23:46); and "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not theangels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" (Mark 13:32). Jesus wascalled a prophet, a teacher from God, His servant, the Messiah, and later was escalated tothe Son of God, and then to God Himself.

Let us now use our reason: how can a mortal woman give birth to God?

Jesus slept while God never sleeps: Psalms 121:4: "Behold, he that keepeth Israel shallneither slumber nor sleep." God should be powerful—but how could people spit on himand crucify him as the Bible alleges? How could Jesus be God if he worshipped God asany other mortal: Luke 5:16: "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed."

Jesus was tempted by Satan for forty days(Luke 4:1-13), but in James 1:13 it is said: "...for God cannot be tempted with evil ..." How can Jesus be God, then? We can rationalizefurther and further.

C. Yes, I myself can't understand it, but we have to accept it blindly.

M. Doesn't that attitude contradict the Bible itself, which says that you have to prove it: IThessalonians 5:21: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

C. It's really confusing.

M. But I Corinthians 14:33 says: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, asin all churches of the saints." Doctrines made by men create confusion.

The Doctrine of theDivine Sonship of Jesus

M. Is Jesus the Son of God?

C. Yes. Read in Matthew 3:17, when Jesus was baptized by John: "And lo a voice fromheaven, saying" 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."'

M. You should not accept the word "son" literally, because the Bible also refers to manyprophets and other people as sons and children of God. Read Exodus 4:22.

C. "And thou [Moses] shalt say unto Pharaoh: 'Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, evenmy firstborn."'

M. Here is Jacob (Israel) His firstborn son. Read II Samuel 7:13-14 or I Chronicles 22:10.

C. "He [Solomon] shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of hiskingdom for ever. I will be his father and he shall be My son."

M. It will be confusing if you read Jeremiah 31:9: "I am a father to Israel and Ephraim ismy firstborn." In Exodus 4:22 just now, Israel was called also called the firstborn. Who isthe real firstborn: Israel or Ephraim? Even common people can be children of God. ReadDeuteronomy 14:1.

C. "Ye are the children of the Lord your God."

M. Common people can also be called firstborn. Read Romans 8:29.

C. "For whom he did fore know, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image ofhis son, that he might be the firstborn of many brethren."

M. If all are firstborn, then what is Jesus?

C. He is the only begotten son of God.

M. Long before Jesus was born, God said to David (Psalms 2:7): "I will declare the decree:the Lord hath said unto me [David]: 'Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee."' SoDavid is also God's begotten son. The meaning of "Son of God" is not literal butmetaphorical. It can be anyone who is beloved by God. Jesus also said that God is not onlyhis Father but also your Father (Matthew 5:45, 48).

C. "That ye may be the children of your Father" and "Be ye therefore perfect, even as yourFather which is in heaven is perfect.

M. You can see in many biblical passages that the phrase "Son of God" signifies love andaffection and neamess to God, and that it is not to be applied to Jesus alone. You will seesons and daughters of God: II Connthians 6:18: "And will be a Father unto you, and yeshall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." In view of these and otherpassages in the Bible, there is no reason why Jesus should be regarded as the son of Godin a literal or unique sense.

C. But he has no father. That is why he is the son of God.

M. Then you must also consider Adam as a son of God, for he had no father or mother. InLuke 3:38, it is said "... Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God." ReadHebrews 7:3.

C. "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days,nor end of life; but made like unto the son of God; abideth a priest continually."

M. Who is he? The answer is in Hebrews 7:1: "Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of themost high God, who met Abraham ..." He is more unique than Jesus or Adam. Why is henot considered a son of God or God Himself?

C. What do you call Jesus then?

M. Muslims call him Jesus, the son of Mary.

C. No one will deny this.

M. Yes, it is simple and nobody can deny it. Jesus called himself the son of man andrefused to be called son of God. Read Luke 4:41.

C. "And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying: 'Thou art Christ, the Son ofGod. And he, rebuking them, suffered them not to speak, for they knew that he wasChrist."

M. It is clear here that he refused to be called the son of God. He also refused such adesignation in Luke 9:20-21, and told his disciples not to refer to him that way.

C. "He [Jesus] said unto them [the disciples]: 'But whom say ye that I am?' Peter,answering, said: 'The Christ of God.' And he straightly charged them and commandedthem to tell no man that thing."

M. Jesus, who was the expected Messiah, a prophet, was escalated from teacher to son ofGod, Lord, and finally to God Himself. Read John 3:2: "The same came to Jesus by night,and said unto him: 'Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God ..."; John 6:14:

"Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said: 'This is of a truththat prophet that should come into the world."' Jesus is also called a prophet in John 7:40;Matthew 21:11; Luke 7:16 and 24:19. In Acts 9:20, we read: "And straightway he [Paul]preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the son of God." (You can conclude fromhere also that early Christians were still using synagogues, but later when Christianitydeviated from the original teaching of Jesus, churches were established. Paul, Barnabas,and the Gentiles were expelled from the synagogues, as they were accused of blasphemyand pollution. See Acts 13:50, 17:18, and 21:28.). In Luke 2:11, it is said that: "For untoyou is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" and in John 1:1:"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Was Jesus Crucified?

M. The Qur'an states in Surah 4:157 that Jesus was not crucified: "And their [Jews']boasting: 'We killed Messiah Jesus, Son of Mary the Apostle of Allah, but they [Jews]killed him not, nor crucified him ..." Do you still believe that he died on the cross?

C. Yes, he died and was then resurrected.

M. We all agree that nobody saw the moment he was resurrected. They found that thesepulchre in which Jesus had been laid was empty and concluded that he had beenresurrected, because the disciples and other witnesses saw him alive after the allegedcrucifixion. Could it not be possible, as the Qur'an claims, that he didn't die on the cross?

C. Where is the proof?

M. Let's look at the biblical passages that support this conclusion. Do you give moreweight to what Jesus said or to the hearsay of the disciples, apostles, and other witnesses?

C. Of course more to what Jesus himself said.

M. That is in accordance with what Jesus said: Matthew 10:24: "The disciple is not abovehis master, nor the servant above his lord."

C. But Jesus himself said that he will rise from the dead: Luke 24:46: "And said unto them:'Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the thirdday."'

M. Suffering is often exaggerated in the Bible and termed "dead," as Paul said in ICorinthians T5:31: "I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ, I die daily" (i.e., Isuffer daily). Here are some of the proofs:

1. On the cross, Jesus beseeched God for help: Matthew 27:46: "My God, my God, whyhast thou forsaken me?" In Luke 22:42, it is recounted: "Saying, Father if thou be willing,remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but shine, be done." (This cup is thecup of death.)

2. Jesus' prayer not to die on the cross was accepted by God, according to Luke, theauthor of Hebrews, and James. Thus, how could he die on the cross?: Luke 22:43: "Andthere appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him." It means that an angelassured him that God would not leave him helpless: Hebrews 5:7: "Who in the days of his

flesh, when he [Jesus] had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying andtears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared."

Jesus' prayers were "heard," which means that they were answered in a positive way byGod: James 5:16: "... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."Jesus himself said in Matthew 7:7-10: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shallfind; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and hethat seeketh findeth, and to him who knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there ofyou, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he givehim a serpent?" If all of Jesus' prayers were accepted by God, including his prayer not todie on the cross, how could he still die on the cross?

3. His legs were not broken by the Roman soldiers: John 19:32-33: "Then came thesoldiers, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. Butwhen they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs." Canyou rely on these soldiers' assertion that Jesus was dead, or did they want to save him outof their belief that he was really innocent?

4. If Jesus died on the cross, his blood would clot and thus no blood would have gushedout of his body when his side was pierced. But the Gospel states that blood and water cameout: John 19:34: "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith camethere out blood and water."

5. When the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign of his true mission, he answered: Matthew12:40: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Sonof Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Disregard the time factor,which was also not three days and three nights but one day (Saturday, daytime only) andtwo nights (Friday night and Saturday night). Was Jonas alive in the belly of the whale?

C. Yes.

M. Was Jonas still alive when he was vomited out of the belly the whale?

C. Yes.

M. Then Jesus was still alive, as he prophesied.

6. Jesus himself stated that he didn't die on the cross. Early Sunday morning MaryMagdalene went to the sepulchre, which was empty. She saw somebody standing wholooked like a gardener. After a conversation, she realized that he was Jesus and wanted totouch him. Jesus said, as recounted in John 20:17: "Touch me not, for I am not yetascended to my Father ..." "Touch me not" perhaps because the fresh wound would hurthim. "I am not yet ascended to my Father" means that he was still alive, because whensomebody dies he goes back to the Creator. This was the strongest proof and was admittedby Jesus himself.

7. After the alleged crucifixion, the disciples thought that he was not the same Jesus inbody but in spirit, because resurrected bodies are "in spirit."

C. Wait a minute. How can you be sure that resurrected bodies are "in spirit"?

M. That is what Jesus himself said in the Bible: that they are equal to angels.

C. Where does he say that?

M. In Luke 20: 34-36: "And answering said unto them: 'The children of the world marry,and are given in marriage. But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world,and then resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. Neither canthey die any more for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being thechildren of the resurrection."'

Then Jesus convinced them that he was the same person by letting them touch his handsand feet. As they could not believe him yet, he asked for meat to show them that he still atelike any living individual. Read Luke 24:36-41: "And as they [the disciples] thus spake,Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them: 'Peace be unto you.' Butthey were terrified and frightened, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he saidunto them: 'Why are ye troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold myhands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see, for a spins hath not flesh andbones, as ye see that I have.' And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his handsand his feet. And while they yet believed not for Joy, and wondered, he said unto them:'Have ye here any meat?' And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.And he took it, and did eat before them."

8. If you still believe that he died on the cross, then he was a false prophet and accursed ofGod according to these passages: beuteronomy 13:5: "And that prophet, or that dreamer ofdreams, shall be put to death ..."; Deuteronomy 21:22-23: "And if a man have committed asin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His bodyshall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for hethat is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy Godgiveth thee for an inheritance."

To believe in his death on the cross is to discredit his prophethood. The Jews claimed thatthey killed Jesus on the cross in order to portray him as a false prophet. Christians believein the crucifixion, for it is necessary for their doctrine of redemption of sin and,consequently, have to accept the accursedness of Jesus, too. This Christian belief opposesthe Bible's teaching in Hosea 6:6: "For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and theknowledge of God more than burnt-offerings." It also opposes Jesus' own teaching inMatthew 9:13: "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice..." Again Jesus said in Matthew 12:7: "But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will havemercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless."

C. Why do people believe in the resurrection then?

M. It was Paul who taught the resurrection: Acts 17:18: "... And some [Jews] said: 'Whatwill this babbler say?' To others, He [Paul] seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods,because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection." Paul, who never saw Jesus,also admitted that the resurrection was his gospel (II Timothy 2:8): "Remember that JesusChrist of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel." He was alsothe first one to declare Jesus the Son of God: Acts 9:20: "And straightway he [Paul]preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." So Christianity is not ateaching of Jesus but of Paul.

C. But Mark 16:19 states that Jesus was raised up to heaven and sat on the right hand ofGod: "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, andsat on the right hand of God. "

M. As I told you earlier, Mark 16:9-20, has been expunged in certain Bibles: The RevisedStandard Version, The New American Standard Bible and The New World Translation ofthe Holy Scriptures of the Jehovah's Witnesses Church. If you still believe that Jesus isdivine because he was raised up to heaven, why don't you accept the divinity of otherprophets who were raised up to heaven?

C. Who were they?

M. Elijah: II Kings 2:1 1-12: "... and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. AndElisha saw it, and he cried ... And he saw him no more ..." Enoch was also taken by Godto heaven: Genesis 5:24: "And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God tookhim." This was also repeated in Hebrews 11:5: "By faith Enoch was translated that heshould not see death, and was not found, because God translated him, for before histranslation he had this testimony, that he pleased God."

The Doctrine of Atonement and Original Sin

C. So the redemption of sin through the crucifixion of Jesus was not part of Jesus'teaching?

M. This is the Doctrine of Atonement, which was accepted by the Church three or fourcenturies after Jesus left the earth. It contradicts the Bible, as the following passages show:Deuteronomy 24:16: "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall thechildren be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.";Jeremiah 31:30: "But every one shall die for his own iniquity ...", Ezekiel 18:20: "The soulthat sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall thefather bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him,and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Adam and Eve were responsible fortheir own sin, which was forgiven by Allah according to the Islamic version.

C. But these are in the Old Testament.

M. Read what Jesus himself said in Matthew 7: 1-2.

C. "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

M. Read I Corinthians 3:8.

C. "Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one; and every man shall receive his ownreward according to his own labour." But we believe in Original Sin!

M. Do you still want me to prove that children are born without sin? Read Matthew 19:14.

C. "But Jesus said: 'Suffer not little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me, for ofsuch is the kingdom of heaven."

M. So everybody is born without sin and all children belong to the kingdom of heaven. Doyou know that it was Paul who abolished the Mosaic law? Read Acts 13:39.

C. "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not bejustified by the law of Moses."

M. Let me ask you a question. Why do you believe in the resurrection if Paul himself, whonever saw Jesus alive, admitted that this was his gospel?

C. Where is it written?

M. Read II Timothy 2:8.

C. "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according tomy gospel." But why do we have to believe that he was crucified and raised from the dead?

M. I don't know. Islam, the teaching of all of the prophets of God, has not beencontaminated with beliefs or concepts that come from paganism and superstition.

C. That's what I'm looking for.

M. Why don't you consider the shahadah (witness) or testimony, first in English and thenin Arabic. Let me help you pronounce it.

C. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, Who has no partner, and I bear witnessthat Muhammad is His servant and messenger. Ashhadu an la illaha illa Allah, wahdahu lasharikah lahu, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu.. Was ProphetMuhammad ever mentioned in the Bible?

M. Yes, but it is not necessary for a Muslim to know it from the Bible. As you havestudied the Bible, I would like to discuss it with you briefly next time.

Note: The rest of the discussion will be conducted between two Muslims: "M" and "m."

Muhammad in the Bible

Both Ishmael and Isaac Were Blessed

M. Why did Ishmael and his mother Hagar leave Sarah?

m. After Isaac was weaned, his mother Sarah saw Ishmael mocking him. After that, shedidn't want Ishmael to be heir with her son Isaac: Genesis 21:8-10: "And the child grew,and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abrahammocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham: 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son, forthe son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac."'

M. Isaac was about two years old when he was weaned. Ishmael was then sixteen yearsold, because Abraham was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael and one hundredyears old when Isaac was born, according to Genesis 16:16: "And Abram was fourscoreand six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram" and Genesis 21:5: "And Abrahamwas a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born unto him." Genesis 21:8-10 thuscontradicts Genesis 21:14-21, where Ishmael was portrayed as a baby put on the shoulderof his mother, called "lad" and "child," when both left Sarah: "And Abraham rose up earlyin the morning and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it onher shoulder, and the child ...'Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in shine hand ..."' This

is the profile of a baby, not of a teenager. So Ishmael and his mother Hagar left Sarah longbefore Isaac was born. According to the Islamic version, Abraham took Ishmael and Hagarand made a new settlement in Makkah, called Paran in the Bible (Genesis 21:21), becauseof a divine instruction given to Abraham as a part of God's plan. Hagar ran seven timesbetween two hills, Safa and Marwa, looking for water. This is the origin of one of therituals that is performed during the pilgrimage to Makkah. The well of water mentioned inGenesis 21:19 is still present and is known as called Zamzam. Both Abraham and Ishmaellater built the Ka'bah in Makkah. The spot where Abraham used to perform prayers nearthe Ka'bah is still present and is known as the Maqam Ibrahim, i.e., the Station ofAbraham. During the pilgrimage, pilgrims in Makkah and Muslims all over the worldcommemorate the offering of Abraham and Ishmael by slaughtering cattle.

m. But the Bible mentions that Isaac was to be sacrificed.

M. The Islamic version states that the covenant between God, Abraham, and his only sonIshmael was made and sealed when Ishmael was supposed to be sacrificed. On the verysame day, Abraham, Ishmael, and all the men of Abraham's household were circumcised.At that time, Isaac had not even born: Genesis 17:24-27: "And Abraham was ninety yearsold and nine when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his sonwas thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. In theselfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. And all the men of hishouse, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised withhim."

A year later, Isaac was born and circumcised when he was eight days old: Genesis 21:4-5:"And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commandedhim. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him." Sowhen the covenant was made and sealed (circumcision and sacrifice) Abraham wasninety-nine and Ishmael was thirteen. Isaac was born a year later, when Abraham was onehundred years old.

The descendants of Ishmael, Prophet Muhammad including all Muslims, remain faithfuluntil today to this covenant of circumcision. In their five daily prayers, Muslims include thepraise of Abraham and his descendants with the praise of Muhammad and his descendants.

m. But in Genesis 22 it is mentioned that Isaac was to be sacrificed.

M. I know, but you will see the contradiction there. It is mentioned "shine only son Isaac."Shouldn't it be "shine only son Ishmael," when Ishmael was thirteen years old and Isaachad not even been born? When Isaac was born, Abraham had two sons. Because ofchauvinism, the name of Ishmael was changed to Isaac in all of Genesis 22. But God haspreserved the word "only" to show us what it should have been.

The words "I will multiply thy seed" in Genesis 22:17 was applied earlier to Ishmael inGenesis 16:10. Was not the whole of Genesis 22 applicable to Ishmael then? "I will makehim a great nation" has been repeated twice for Ishmael in Genesis 17:20 and Genesis21:18, and never applied to Isaac at all.

m. The Jews and Christians maintain that Isaac was superior to Ishmael.

M. They can say that if they want to, but the Bible does not support this claim: Genesis15:4: "And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him [Abraham], saying: 'This [Eliezerof Damascus] shall not be shine heir, but he that shall come forth out of shine own bowelsshall be shine heir."' So Ishmael was also Abraham's heir.

Genesis 16:10: "And the angel of the Lord said unto her [Hager]: 'I will multiply thy seedexceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. "'

Genesis 17:20: "And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee. Behold, I have blessed him, andwill make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. Twelve princes shall he beget,and I will make him a great nation."

Genesis 21:13: "And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he isthy seed."

Genesis 21:18: "Arise, lift up the lad [Ishmael], and hold him in shine hand, for I willmake him a great nation."

Deuteronomy 21:15-17: "If a man have two wives, one beloved and another hated, andthey have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son behers that was hated: Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which hehash, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated,which is indeed the firstborn: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for thefirstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hash: for he is the beginning of thestrength; the right of the firstborn is his." Islam does not deny God's blessings on Isaacand his descendants, but the son of promise is Ishmael, from whom arose Muhammad asthe seal of the prophets.

m. But Christians and Jews claim that Ishmael was an illegitimate son.

M. That is what they say, but not what the Bible states. How could such a great prophet asAbraham have an illegal wife and a son out of wedlock!

Genesis 16:3: "... and [Sarah] gave her [Hager] to her husband Abram to be his wife." Ifthe marriage was legal, how could their offspring be illegal? Is a marriage between twoforeigners, a Chaldean and an Egyptian, not more legal than a marriage between a man witha daughter of his father? Whether it was a lie of Abraham or not, it is stated in Genesis20:12: "And yet indeed she [Sarah] is my sister, she is the daughter of my father, but notthe daughter of my mother; and she became my wife."

The name Ishmael was also chosen by Allah Himself: Genesis 16:11: "And the Angel ofthe Lord said unto her [Hager]: 'Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shaltcall his name Ishmael, because the Lord hath heard thy affliction."' Ishmael means "Godhears." Where in the Bible is it written that Ishmael was an illegitimate son?

m. Nowhere.

M. Long before both Ishmael and Isaac were born, Allah made a covenant with Abraham:Genesis 15:18: "... saying Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egyptunto the great river, the Euphrates." Doesn't the greater part of Arabia lie between the Nileand the Euphrates, where all the descendants of Ishmael settled at a later date?

m. Do you mean that no land was promised to Isaac and his descendants?

M. We Muslims don't deny that Isaac was also blessed. See Genesis 17:8: "And I will giveunto thee, and to thy seed [Isaac] after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all theland Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."

Do you see also the difference that Abraham was called "a stranger" in Canaan but not inthe land between the Nile and the Euphrates? As a Chaldean, he was more Arab than Jew.

m. But the covenant was made with Isaac, according to Genesis 17:21: "But my covenantwill I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this time in the next year."

M. Does this exclude Ishmael? Where in the Bible does it say that Allah would not makeany covenant with Ishmael?

m. Nowhere.

Criterion of the Prophet by Jeremiah

Jeremiah 28:9: "The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophetshall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him."

The word Islam also signifies tranquillity and peace, peace between the Creator and hiscreatures. This prophecy of Jeremiah cannot be applied to Jesus, as he himself stated thathe didn't come for peace: Luke 12:51-53: "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace onearth? I tell you nay, but rather division, for from henceforth there will be five in one housedivided, three against two and two against three. The father shall be divided against theson, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughteragainst the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-lawagainst her mother-in-law." See also Matthew 10:34-36.

Until Shiloh Come

This was a message of Jacob to his children before he died: Genesis 49:1): "And Jacobcalled unto his sons, and said: 'Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that whichshall befall you in the last days. "

Genesis 49:10: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a law- giver from between hisfeet, until Shiloh come. And unto him shall the gathering of the people be."

Shiloh is also the name of a town, but its real meaning is peace, tranquillity, rest—Islam. Itcould never refer to a town here. If it referred to a person, it could be a corruption ofShaluah (Elohim), i.e., Messenger (of Allah) .

So the Israelite prophethood in the lineage of Isaac would stop as soon as Shiloh came.This corresponds with Surah 2:133: "Were you witnesses when death came to Jacob?When he said to his sons: 'What will you worship after me?' They said: 'We shall worshipyour God [Allah], the God of your fathers Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac, One God and toHim we surrender [in Islam]."'

The shift of prophethood to another nation was threatened in Jeremiah 31:36: "'If thoseordinances depart from before me,' saith the Lord, 'then the seed of Israel also shall ceasefrom being a nation before me for ever."' This was also hinted at by Jesus in Matthew21:43: "Therefore say I unto you: 'The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and givento a nation bringing forth the fruits

Baca Is Makkah

The Holy Ka'bah, which was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, is in Makkah. Thisname Makkah has been mentioned once in the Qur'an in Surah 48:24. Another name forMakkah is Bakkah, depending on the dialect of the tribe. This also has been mentionedonce, in Surah 3:96: "Verily, the first House [of worship] appointed for mankind was thatin Bakkah [Makkah], full of blessing, and guidance for all people." Amazing enough, thisword Bakkah was mentioned by Prophet David in his Psalm 84:6: "Who passing throughthe valley of Baca make it a well, the rain also filleth the pools." The well here is thewell-known well of Zamzam, which is still present today and is located close to theKa'bah.

The House of My Glory

Isaiah chapter 60:

1. "Arise shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."Compare the with Surah 74:1-3: 0, you [Muhammad] wrapped up in garments! Arise andwarn! And your Lord magnify!

2. "For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people, but theLord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." The advent of ProphetMuhammad was at a time of darkness when the world had forgotten the oneness of God astaught by Abraham and all of the other prophets, including Jesus.

3. "And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."

4. "Lift up shine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they cometo thee: ...." Within less than twenty-three years the whole of Arabia was united.

5. "... because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of theGentiles shall come unto thee." Within less than a century, Islam had spread beyond theborders of Arabia.

6. "The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah, all theyfrom Sheba shall come, they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall shew forth thepraises of the Lord."

7. "All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shallminister unto thee. They shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify thehouse of my glory." The tribes of Kedar (Arabia) who were divided were then united. "Thehouse of my glory," referred here to the House of Allah in Makkah and not the Church ofChrist as thought by Christian commentators. It is a fact that the villages of Kedar (now thewhole of Saudi Arabia at least) are located in the only country in the world that remainsimpenetrable to the Church's influence.

8. "Therefore thy gates shall be open continually. They shall not be shut day nor night, thatmen may bung unto thee the forces of the Gentiles and that their kings may be brought." Itis a fact that the mosque surrounding the Holy Ka'bah in Makkah has remained open dayand night since the Prophet Muhammad removed the idols located within it fourteencenturies ago. Rulers as well as subjects came for the pilgrimage.

Chariot of Asses and Chariot of Camels

The vision of Isaiah of the two riders in Isaiah 21:7: "And he saw a chariot with a couple ofhorsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels ..."

Who was the rider upon an ass? Every Sunday School student knows that this person wasJesus: John 12:14: "And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon, as it iswritten."

Who, then, is the promised rider on a camel? This powerful prophet has been overlookedby readers of the Bible. This person is Prophet Muhammad. If this is not applied to him,then the prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. That is why lsaiah mentioned in 21:13: "Theburden upon Arabia ...," which means the responsibility of the Arab Muslims, and ofcourse now of all Muslims, to spread the message of Islam.

Isaiah 21:14: "The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty,and they prevented with their bread him that fled." Tema is probably Madinah, the city towhich Prophet Muhammad and his Companions immigrated. Each immigrant was joined toa citizen of Madinah in ties of brotherhood by the Prophet. The immigrants were also givenfood and shelter.

Isaiah 21:15: "For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword and from the bentbow, and from the grievousness of war." This was when Prophet Muhammad and hisCompanions were persecuted and left Makkah for Madinah.

Isaiah 21:16: "For thus hath the Lord said unto me: 'Within a year, according to the yearsof an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail."' Exactly in the second year of Hijrah(immigration), the pagans were defeated in the battle of Badr

Finally Isaiah 21:17 concludes with "... the mighty men of the children of Kedar shall bediminished, for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it." Kedar is the second son of Ishmael(Genesis 25:13), from whom ultimately Prophet Muhammad arose. In the beginning, thechildren of Kedar were attacking Muhammad and his Companions. But as many of themaccepted Islam, the number of children of Kedar who resisted began to diminish. In someBible verses, "Kedar" is synonymous with "Arab" in general, as in Ezekiel 27:21: "Arabia,and all the Princes of Kedar ..."

The Prophet Like unto Moses

God addressed Moses: Deuteronomy 18:18: "I will raise them up a prophet from amongtheir brethren, like unto thee [Moses], and will put my words in his mouth, and he shallspeak unto them all that I shall command him."

1. Brethren of Israelites (descendants of Abraham through Isaac) are Ishmaelites(descendants of Abraham through Ishmael). Jesus is here excluded, as he is an Israelite.Otherwise it should be written "a prophet from among yourselves."

2. Is Muhammad not like unto Moses? If this is not accepted, this promise has yet to befulfilled. The table below, taken from Al-lttihad (January- March 1982), page 41, isself-explanatory:

Following is a comparison between a few crucial characteristics of Moses, Muhammad,and Jesus which may clarify the identity of "that prophet" who was to come after Moses:

Area ofComparison

Moses Muhammad Jesus

Birth: Usual Usual UnusualFamily Life: Married, Children Married, Children Single, No ChildrenDeath: Usual Usual UnusualCareer: Prophet/Stateman Prophet/Stateman ProphetForced Emigration(in adulthood)

To Median To Madinah None

Encounter withEnemies

Hot Pursuit Hot Pursuit/Battles No similar encounter

Results of encounter Moral/physicalvictory

Moral/physicalvictory

Moral victory

Writing down ofRevelation

In his lifetime(Torah)

In his lifetime(Qur'an)

After him

Nature of Teachings Spiritual/Legal Spiritual/Legal Mainly SpiritualAcceptance of hisleadership (amonghis people)

rejected thenaccepted

rejected thenaccepted

rejected (by mostIsraelites)

3. "Put my words in his mouth." God's revelation came through Gabriel, and ProphetMuhammad's own thinking was not involved. But this applies to all divine revelation.Perhaps it is mentioned here specifically because it is compared with the revelation toMoses, which is believed to have been revealed on "written tablets."

Deuteronomy 18:19: "And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto mywords which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him."

In the Qurtan, 113 of the 114 surahs start with the phrase: "In the name of Allah, mostGracious, most Merciful." This phrase is also a common part of a Muslim's daily speech,for it is used when beginning a new activity. It is not in the name of God, but "in myname"—God's personal name is Allah. It has no gender or plural forms, as the Englishword "God" does. Christians start with "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the HolySpirit."

It should also be noted that those who will not hear or accept the message that he bringswill be punished. This corresponds with surah 3:19: Truly the religion in the sight of Allahis Islam and surah 3:85: And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it will never beaccepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.

My Servant, Messenger, and Elect

A clearer furfillment of the prophecy of Muhammad is found in Isaiah 42:

1. "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. I haveput my spirit upon him, and he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." He is also called

"my messenger" in verse 19. No doubt all prophets were indeed servants, messengers, andthe elect of Allah. Yet no prophet, with the exception of Muhammad, is universally calledby these specific titles. In Arabic, these are: Abduhu wa Rasuluhu Mustapha—His servantand His elected messenger. The testimony of a person accepting Islam is: "I bear witnessthat there is no deity but Allah, Who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad isHis servant and messenger." This same formula is repeated five times a day in the call toprayer before the beginning of each prayer, nine times a day in the tashahhud during theminimum obligatory prayers, and several more times if a Muslim performs any of theadditional recommended prayers. The most common title of Prophet Muhammad is RasulAllah, which means "the Messenger of Allah."

2. "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street." Thisdescribes the decency of Prophet Muhammad.

3. "... he shall bring forth judgment unto truth."

4. "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he has set judgment in the earth; and the islesshall wait for his law." This is to be compared with Jesus, who did not prevail over hisenemies and who was disappointed because of the rejection by the Israelites.

5. "I, the Lord, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold shine hand, and will keepthee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles." The phrase"and will keep thee" indicates that no other prophet will come after him. In a short time,many Gentiles embraced Islam.

6. "To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit indarkness out of the prison house." "Blind eyes, life of darkness" denotes pagans and theirpaganism. "Bring out the prisoners from the prison" denotes the abolishment of slavery forthe first time in the history of mankind.

7. "I am the Lord. That is my name, and my glory I will not give to another, neither mypraise to graven images." Prophet Muhammad is unique among all prophets, as he is the"seal of the prophets" and his teachings remain undistorted until today, as compared withChnst~amly and Juda~sm.

8. "Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ...." A newsong, as it is not in Hebrew or Aramaic, but in Arabic. The praise of God and Hismessenger Muhammad is chanted five times daily from the minarets of millions of mosquesall over the world.

9. "Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar clothinhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the toP of the mountains."From Mount Arafat near Makkah the pilgrims chant every year the following: "Here I come[for Your service] O, Allah. Here I come. Here I come. There is no partner with you. HereI come. Verily Yours is the praise, the blessings, and sovereignty. There is no partnerbesides You." Isaiah 42 can never be applied to an Israelite prophet, as Kedar is the secondson of Ishmael. See Genesis 25:13.

10. "Let them give glory unto the Lord and declare his praise in the islands." And reallyIslam spread to the small islands as far as Indonesia and the Caribbean sea.

11. "... he shall prevail against his enemies." In a short period, the Kingdom of God onearth was established with the advent of Muhammad. This forty-second chapter of Isaiahfits the character of Prophet Muhammad exactly.

King David Called Him "My Lord"

Psalm 110:1: "The Lord said unto my Lord: 'Sit thou at my right hand, until I make shineenemies thy footstool."'

There are two Lord mentioned here. If the first Lord (the speaker) is God, the second Lord(the one spoken to) could not also be God, for David knew only one God. So it shouldread: "God said unto my Lord, ..." Who was that whom David called "my Lord"? TheChurch would say Jesus. But this was denied by Jesus himself in Matthew 22:45, Mark12:37, and Luke 20:44. He excluded himself from this title, as he was a son of David.How could David call him "my Lord" if he was his son, he argued. Jesus said, in Luke20:42-44: "How say they that Christ is David's son? And David himself saith in the bookof Psalms: 'The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand till I make shineenemies thy footstool.' David therefore calleth him Lord. How is he then his son?"

Jesus must have given an answer not recorded in the four canonical Gospels. However, itis mentioned explicitly in the Gospel of Barnabas that the promise was made to Ishmael,not to Isaac. David's "Lord" was thus Muhammad, whom he saw in spirit. No prophetever accomplished more than Muhammad. Even the combined work of all of the otherprophets remains small in comparison with that of Muhammad, who, during a twenty-threeyear period, was able to leave a legacy—Islam—that remains unchanged until now.

Art Thou That Prophet?

The Jews sent priests and Levites to John the Baptist to ask who he really was. John1:20-21: "And he [John the Baptist] confessed and denied not; but confessed, 'I am not theChrist.' And they asked him: 'What then? Art thou Elias? 'And he saith: 'I am not.' 'Artthou that prophet?' And he answered: 'No."'

The crucial question here is: Art thou that prophet? Who was the long-awaited prophet whowas to come after the advent of Jesus and John the Bapt~st? Was he not the one like untoMoses (Deuteronomy 18:18) who is Muhammad?

Baptizing with the Holy Ghost and with Fire

Matthew 3:1 1: "I [John the Baptist] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but hethat cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shallbaptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."

If Jesus was alluded to here, John the Baptist would not have gone back to live in thedesert again, but would have clung to him and become one of his disciples, which he didnot do. Thus John was alluding to another Dowerful prophet here. The one coming afterJohn the Baptist could not be Jesus, as both were contemporaries. Here again, was it notProphet Muhammad who was being alluded to by John the Baptist?

The Least in the Kingdom of Heaven

Jesus was quoted, in Matthew 11:11, as saying: "Verily I say unto you. Among them thatare born of women there hath not risen a greater man than John the Baptist:notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

Can you believe that John the Baptist is greater than Adan., NG"-., Abraham, Moses,David, and many other prophets? How many pagans did John the Baptist convert, and howmany followers did he have? But this is not the main point here. The question is: who wasthe least in the kingdom of heaven, greater than John the Baptist? For sure not Jesus, as atthat time the kingdom of heaven was not yet formed and he never claimed to be the least,i.e., the youngest one. The kingdom of heaven consists of God as the Supreme~Being andall of the prophets. The least or youngest one is here Prophet Muhammad.

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was quoted, in Matthew 5:9, as saying: "Blessed arethe peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."

One of the meanings of the word "Islam" is peace: peace between the Creator and theworshiper. Jesus could not mean that his mission was that of a peacemaker, as he statedclearly that he had not been sent for that purpose (Matthew 10:34-36): "Think not that I amcome to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set aman at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and thedaughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be they of his ownhousehold." See also Luke 12:49-53.

Comforter

John 14:16: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that hemay abide with you for ever."

We do not know exactly the original Aramaic word used by Jesus for "Comforter." OtherBibles use "Consoler," '`Advocate," "Helper," and in Greek Bibles we find the word"Paraclete." There are different explanations for it, among them "Holy Spirit" and "theWord. "

The Qur'an states in surah 61:6 that Jesus explicitly mentioned the name Ahmad: "And(remember) when Jesus, Son of Mary, said: 'O, children of Israel! I am the Apostle ofAllah (sent) to you confirming the Torah (which came) before me, and giving glad tidingsof an Apostle to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad (i.e., the second name ofProphet Muhammad, and literally it means "the one who praises Allah more than others")."

Whatever the explanation is of the Comforter, we conclude that Jesus left an unfinishedwork and that someone was coming to complete his mission. Let us examine, in the light ofthe Bible, if this Comforter f~ts the character of Prophet Muhammad:

1. "Another Comforter": So many Comforters had come, and another one was to come.2."That he may abide with you for ever": As there was no need for another one to come afterhim, and he was the seal of all prophets. The teaching will abide for ever and will remainintact. In fact, the Qurtan and all of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad remain as theywere 1400 years ago.

3. "He will reprove the world of sin": (see John 16: 8) All other prophets, even Abraham,Moses, David, and Solomon chastised their neighbors and their people for sin, but not the

world as Muhammad did. He not only rooted out idolatry in Arabia within a twenty-threeyear period, but also sent envoys to Heraclius, the sovereigns of the Persian and Romanempires, to Najashi (the king of Ethiopia), and to Muqauqis (the governor of Egypt). Hereprimanded the Christians for dividing the unity of God into three portions, for havingraised Jesus to a Son of God and then to God Himself. It was he who condemned the Jewsand Christians for having corrputed their scriptures, demonstrated the birthright of Ishmael,and cleared the prophets from accusations of adultery, incest, rape, and idolatry.

4. "The prince of the world is judeed" (John 16:11). This is Satan, as explained in John12:31 and 14:30. So Prophet Muhammad came to chastise the world on account ofjudgment.

5. "The Spirit of Truth" (John 16: 13). Since childhood, Prophet Muhammad was calledal-Amin, i.e., the Honest or Truthful One. This person will also come and "he will guideyou into all truth: ..." (John 16:13).

6. "For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak"(John 16:13). The Qur'an is God's word. Not a single word from Prophet Muhammad orhis Companions was included within it. The angel Gabriel read it to him, he memorized it,and it was written down by his scribes. His own sayings and teachings were recorded inthe hadith or (lit. tradition) literature.

Compare this with Deuteronomy 18:18: "... and will put my words in his mouth; and heshall speak unto them all that I shall command him." This corresponds with surah 53:2-4:"Your companion [Muhammad] is neither astray nor being misled. Nor does he speak of[his own] desire. It is only the inspiration that is inspired."

7. "And he will show you things to come" (John 16: 13). Many prophecies of ProphetMuhammad have already come to pass, and the rest will be fulf~lled in the future.

8. "He shall glorify me (John 16:14). Actually, the Qurtan and Prophet Muhammad havemore reverence for Jesus than do the Bible and Christians themselves. The following willclarify this point:

a. To believe in Jesus' death on the cross discredits his prophethood, according toDeuteronomy 13:5: "And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death ..."It also stamps him as accursed, (May Allah forbid it!) according to Deuteronomy 21:22-23:"... for he that is hanged is accursed of God . .."

b. Matthew 27:46: "... My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Would Jesus havesaid such a thing? Even a non-prophet would smile at agony, as he would know that hisdeath would win him the title of martyr. Is this not an insult to Jesus and an insinuation thathe did not have faith in Allah?

c. We Muslims cannot believe that Jesus could label the Gentiles as dogs and swine andaddress his mother with "woman," as the Qurtan states in surah 19:32: "And dutiful to myMother [i.e. Mary], and [Allah] made me not an unblessed and arrogant." Matthew 7:6:"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine ..."John 2:4: "Jesus saith unto her [Mary], Woman, what have I to do with thee?"

Revelation to Prophet Muhammad

The first revelation (surah 96: 1-5) of Allah through the angel Gabriel to Muhammad wasthe word iqra', which means "read."As he was illiterate, he replied: "I cannot read." Thisfirst revelation was prophesied in Isaiah 29:12: "And the book is delivered to him that is notlearned, saying: 'Read this, I pray thee,' and he saith: 'I am not learned. "'

The Qurtanic verses were not revealed in the order in which they appear in the Qur'an. Inother words, the first part that was revealed is not the first page and the last part that wasrevealed is not the last page. That these revelations came in installments and were insertedin a certain order in the Qurtan as ordained by Allah was also mentioned in Isaiah 28:10-11:"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line;here a little, and there a little. For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak tohis people." Another tongue means here another language—not Hebrew or Aramaic, butArabic

Muslims all over the world use one language—Arabic—in calling their God, in theirprayers, pilgrimage, and in their greetings to each other. This unity of language was alsoprophesied in Zephaniah 3:9: "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that theymay all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent." Alas the truth hascome in Arabic, but some still expect Prophet Jesus, who might teach mankind to worshipAllah in one unique language in his second coming. We Muslims are sure that ProphetJesus, in his second coming, will join the Muslims in their mosques, as he is like any otherMuslim: he is circumcised, abstains from pork, and performs prayers with ablution, andthat he stands, bows, and prostrates during his prayers.

References

1.Explanatory English Translation of Holy Qur'an, by Dr. Muhammad Taqui-Dinal-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan.

2. The Holy Bible (King James Version), authorized 1611.

3. The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version).

4. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Jehovah's WitnessesChurch).

5. New American Standard Bible.

6. The Myth of the Cross, by A. D. Ajijola.

7. The Cross and the Crescent, by Maulana Muhammad Imran.

8. Davis Dictionary of the Bible, 1980.

9. The International Standard Bible Enyclopedia.

10. Smith's Bible Dictionary, 1980.

11. The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1980.

12. Muhammad in the Bible, by Prof. Abdul Ahad Dawud.

13 Muhammad in the Bible, by Ahmed Deedat.

14 Jesus: A Prophet of Islam, by Sulaiman Shahid Mufassir.

15. Biblical Studies from Muslim Perspectives, by S. Mufassir.

16. Muhammad in the Bible, by Jamal Badawi: Al-lttihad (JanuaryMarch 1982).1 While it has become customary to take off one's shoes in a mosque, it is sunnahto pray with one's shoes on. (See Sunan Abu Dawood.)